“He protected me in my early days as a footballer. He gave me a footballing lesson in how to conduct myself, to keep my distance from the media.

“At half-time when you had played badly, you expected to get an earful and be told to push yourself and fight more.

“He told you that you were playing badly because you were running too much. You had to send the ball where you wanted it to go and not to run after it. Lionel Messi is the [Barcelona] player who runs the least and in that he was Cruyff’s best pupil. He told you completely the opposite to what you had always learned.

“He left us many things. We have all followed him in one way or another. Some as coaches, others as sporting directors, others commentators... and that’s only possible if someone gives you something.

“It’s not by chance that [Andoni] Zubizarreta and Txiki [Begiristain] are great sporting directors.

“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘What would Johan do?’ That’s what happened to me against Juventus, I already had the rope around my neck but we finished by winning.”

PollJames Dixon

Poll update

Enough of midfielders for now, let’s give the poor defenders some time in the spotlight.

Transfer newsKEY EVENT

City eye La Liga ace

We know he likes midfielders but it’s getting silly now Pep!

Next on the Pep production line... Koke.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder has been one of La Liga’s top talents and is being lined up for a move to City, according to reports in Spain.

This one’s coming straight from OkDiaro who aren’t exactly what I would call a mainstream source.

Anyway, they claim that Guardiola will now hope to beat Barcelona to the player’s signature, with a £63million bid enough to trigger his release clause.

It’s settled... XI midfielders next season and that’s it.

Transfer latestKEY EVENT

City may turn to Stones

City may have step up their interest in John Stones after confirmation that Aymeric Laporte has suffered a broken ankle.

But Pep Guardiola will have to go head-to-head with Barcelona to land the £50m-rated Everton centre back.

Barca have identified Stones as one of their key targets this summer, with Everton privately accepting he will leave Goodison at the end of the season.

The England international is also on City’s radar - and the injury to Laporte may convince Guardiola to push him to the top of his defensive targets.

Bilbao confirmed the extent of Laporte’s injury in a statement, which read: “The player suffered an injury to his right ankle during the Under-21 match between Scotland and France.

“The first scan detected a fracture-dislocation on his right fibula and ankle.

“On his return to Bilbao, he will be subjected to further tests, after which the extent of his injury and absence will be determined.”

Guardiola is expected to address City’s defence when he takes over at the end of the season.

Soriano outlines City vision

It’s not often Manchester City fans get the chance to hear the views of chief executive Ferran Soriano, the man in charge of growing the club’s global commercial appeal.

Since his arrival in 2012, having occupied a similar position at Barcelona, he has set about making City one of the biggest names in world football, creating the City Football Group (CFG), a conglomerate of clubs across the globe bearing the City name, and growing revenue rapidly in the process.

Throughout that time he’s kept a low media profile, rarely giving interviews to outline his ideas. But last week he gave a stirring speech in front of a 400-strong crowd at the Etihad Stadium during the Supporters Club Annual Dinner.

Soriano spoke about City’s history, going back to 1880 when two church wardens from St Mark’s Parish Church in Gorton, recognising the need to use football as a tool to battle adversity in the local area, set up a team to keep young men off the streets.

He sought to reassure fans that, no matter how global the club’s operation becomes, their founding principles and community spirit must remain in tact.

He celebrated City’s achievements since his arrival, citing CFG, the opening of the CFA and the stadium expansion as examples of their growth, and finished by speaking ambitiously about the future of the club.

Kelechi deserves his chance

Abdinoor A Kadir: Do you think we need a foward next season or aquero and iheanacho and bony are enough to win triple?

James: Iheanacho must be given more opportunities - but City definitely need extra cover for Aguero, particularly with the Argentine’s injury record.

TicketsJames Dixon

PSG ticket update

Q&AJames Robson

Aguero future

Negredo Kevin: Is it true aguero is leaving ?????]]!!!!!

James: Aguero will leave... eventually. He’s made it clear he wants to return to Independiente at the end of his contract - but that’s not until 2019 when he’ll be 31. That might be a good time for all parties.

Q&AJames Robson

Expect City signings!

Ger Daly: Are we going to buy anyone decent for a change? Because we haven’t for a few years, apart from KDB?

James: No doubt City’s signings have been a mixed bag in recent years. I think KDB and Sterling will prove to be great signings - but they definitely need to add more quality this summer. I fully expect that to happen. They want to give Pep the best chance possible to be a success - targeting Pogba, Gundogan and Kroos isn’t a bad start.

Q&AJames Robson

Top City youngsters

Ams Strong Who are the promising players to be promoted from the academic next season?

(Photo: Eddie Garvey/MEN Media)

James: Stuart Brennan wrote an interesting piece on this this week - outlining the players City hope will reach the elite bracket. Obviously there’s excitement surrounding Brahim - but I was there to watch Patrick Roberts’ wonderful solo goal against Juve this season. He’s at Celtic on loan - but could be a real star in the making.

Q&AJames Robson

Can City get Messi?

Abdallah Abdul Samad: Is There Any Truth Of Pep Guardiola And Messi Reunion With Us?

James: City’s hierarchy are convinced they will be the first choice if Messi leaves Barca. Unfortunately - there is very little sign of that happening. Pep’s relationship with him is very strong, and he is expected to at least explore the possibility of bringing to City - but there’s an acceptance all round that it’s extremely unlikely he will ever leave Barca.

Q&AJames Robson

Did Pep get his timing wrong?

Debjit Konar: Why did we announce the signing of pep before the end of the season?

(Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

James: There was a danger of the Pep question overshadowing the rest of the season. As soon as he announced his intention to leave Bayern, press conferences were littered with questions about him. City probably felt it would put the issue to bed. Given the way the season has gone since, there are now understandable questions about the timing.

Q&AJames Robson

Will Pep want Hart?

Ben Cruise: Hello James. I’d like to ask you of Joe Hart. Is it true that Joe won’t be prioritized by Pep next season as I heard pep wants Bravo in city.

I’d be very surprised if Hart wasn’t No1 next season. He’s one of the best keepers in the world and an influential figure in the dressing room. Pep has generally kept a core of homegrown players at Barca and Bayern and I’d expect Hart to be part of the English core to his City side

Q&AJames Robson

Defender decisions

Negredo Kevin: Man city to buy another better defender than mangala ...or demichellis..?

James: Defence is one of the key areas for Pep. I wrote last week that City simply can’t rely on Kompany, given his ongoing calf problems. Laporte’s injury last night isn’t good news, because he was on their wanted list. I’m a big fan of John Stones - but he’s not the finished article.

Q&AJames Robson

Who will leave City?

Rap-Kid PaperBills Jnr: What are the chances of Demicheles, Bony and Sterling leaving or staying at City in the next transfer window?

James: Demichelis is expected to return to Argentina at the end of the season. As for Bony - it’s hard to see him fitting into Pep’s plans. He’s struggled with fitness and form - and right now I’d have Kelechi ahead of him in my pecking order.

Sterling is seen as a key part of City’s plans moving forward. By his own admission he’s been inconsistent since his move from Liverpool - but I expect him to get better and better. He’s already improved in front of goal - and Pep might just be the perfect man to unlock his full potential

Q&AJames Robson

FIrst question in...

Pep is obsessed with midfielders and Pogba’s just about the best there is.

(Photo: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

City were very interested last year, but his personal demands and Juve’s £71m asking price was too much. They are going to have to get over that hurdle this summer - but given the importance Pep places in midfield, I’d expect them work really hard on getting it done this time.

The future of City's defence

This morning's transfer lines

Manchester City and Juventus are ready to battle it out for Real Madrid midfielder ISCO, says the Mirror.

Manchester United are plotting a sensational swoop for Swedish superstar ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC, according to the Daily Star. The 34-year-old is out of contract at Paris St Germain in June and will reportedly be offered a deal worth £250,000 a week for two years.

ANTONIO CONTE has told Chelsea not to sell JUAN CUADRADO to Juventus and wants to make Roma midfielder RADJA NAINGGOLAN one of his first signings when, as expected, he takes over the club in the summer, says the Guardian.

Atletico Madrid have joined the hunt for CHRISTIAN BENTEKE and are also keen on a return to the club for Chelsea’s DIEGO COSTA, the Daily Mirror reports.

Arsenal are willing to pay up to £34m to sign Borussia Monchengladbach’s GRANIT XHAKA this summer, according to the Star.

HandoverJames Dixon

Let's get started!

Good morning everyone. Hopefully some of you are enjoying your day off, those of you at work, we feel your pain!

I’ll be taking care of blog duties throughout the day to bring you all the latest news and transfer gossip.

Just because it’s the international break and a long weekend doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty out there to sink our teeth into.

We’ll be having a special chat with our City editor James Robson later, so get in contact with me throughout the day at @JamesDixonMEN for any questions you want to ask.

But this is your blog and I want to hear what you have to say! You can also get in touch with me on twitter throughout the day.

That’s enough of the idle chat, let’s get into it!

Butland: Hart's up there with the best

Jack Butland has heaped praise on Joe Hart, saying:

“He’s right up there and he is one of the best in the world.

“Whether it is watching on TV, training with him with England or back when he was at Birmingham, there are always things to learn.